We have updated our Terms & Conditions. To continue, please confirm that you have read and accept these:

You have to agree to pocketmags.com's Terms & Conditions to proceed

This website use cookies and similar technologies to improve the site and to provide customised content and advertising. By using this site, you agree to this use. To learn more, including how to change your cookie settings, please view our Cookie Policy

Globetrotter

A WORLD OF TRAVEL NEWS AND DISCOVERIES

All eyes on Kazakhstan

IT’S NOW EASIER THAN EVER to visit this particular ’stan after the country introduced visa-free travel for the UK. But should you? Emphatically yes, says Lonely Planet destination editor Megan Eaves: ‘Kazakhstan’s greatest draw is its incredible natural scenery – it’s a country the size of Western Europe with the population of the Netherlands, so there’s lots of open space. The country lies on the ancient Silk Road, and you can get a taste of that history in the city of Turkistan – a 14th-century Sufi pilgrimage site.’ You can’t go to Kazakhstan without seeing the new capital, Astana, and its quirky architecture, such as the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Centre (pictured). Says Megan, ‘Highlights include the Bayterek Tower, meant to embody a folktale about a mythical bird who laid a golden egg on top of a tall poplar tree.’